Google Home Mini, Home Max smart speakers launched, to take on Amazon Echo Dot, Echo Plus

Google has unveiled Home Mini and Home Max smart speakers powered by Google Assistant.

Google on Wednesday announced a new version of its smart speaker at an event in San Francisco. Called the Google Home Mini, the $49 device with touch gesture support, will take on Amazon’s compact Echo Dot and others. The smart speaker will go on pre-order from today in the US and will be available in stores from October 19.

According to the search giant, the miniature version of the Home speaker, compatible with both Android and iOS platforms, will deliver surround sound, support Chromecast for wirelessly playing music and also boasts hands-free voice calling support. It’s equipped with Voice Match as well which means it can recognise your voice and give you personalised information.

Google also unveiled a bigger Home Max smart speaker, being touted as the search giant’s biggest and the best yet, at the same event. The device comes with a dual 4.5-inch high-excursion woofers and custom 0.7-inch tweeters. It has acoustic brace and polycarbonate housing. The device supports 3.5mm audio jack as well.

The Google Home Max is priced at $399 and will be available from December. Google is bundling 12-months of YouTube Music subscription with the Google Home.

The original Google Home is priced at $129. The Mini device supports HE-AAC • LC-AAC+ audio formats and comes with a 2-inch driver with dual 2-inch passive radiators.

The launch of the Google Home Mini comes at the same day Amazon launched its Echo range of smart speakers in India. Google is yet to disclose its plans to launch the speaker in India.